Robert Carlyle reveals floody nightmare in TV disaster dram

Apr 20 2008 By Steve Hendry

Exclusive Carlyle's Flood Drama Ordeal

SOAKED star Robert Carlyle has revealed he put himself through agony by doing his own stunts for a TV disaster drama.

Carlyle, 46, was left battered and bruised after being hit by walls of water in Flood - set in tide-swamped London.

He plays an expert sent to save the city from a colossal tidal surge.

And the Scots star says it was his toughest role yet.

He said: "This is probably the most physical part I've ever taken and there are quite a lot of stunts I found myself in the middle of."

"I'm soaked through and probably up to my waist in water for at least 75 per cent of the film but I knew that from the script.

"When you come to film it you know you are going to have days and days of it but I must say it was a challenge that I think I rose to and I really enjoyed it."

"In so many things you have stunt men going in then they cut it all together. It's been quite nice to go through the falls and to realise what the character is going through.

"It gives you a sense of how sore it would be and, how that could potentially feel. So it's the most physical I've ever been - I felt like a mini action hero.

"I don't know if I would be jumping back into that side of things in a hurry but once the bumps and the bruises clear up I'll probably have another go."

In Flood - screening on ITV next month - a massive wave threatens to overwhelm the Thames Barrier and destroy London. Robert's character teams up with his estranged wife Sam, played by Jessalyn Gilsig, to avert disaster.

He said: "I play Rob Morrison, a marine engineer who has expertise of the Thames Barrier.

"He's separated from wife Sam, who controls the Barrier. So, they can't get away from each other."

The drama is a thrilling ride but Robert hopes it also has a message which will be listened to.

He said: "I think the film has a message in it - that this is possible.

"We hope the Thames Barrier can stop anything like this but if it saves lives we might have to look at plans to build another barrier.

"It might cost a billion pounds to do it but I'd rather spend a billion pounds on this than spend it on a war."

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